What do you write in your journals?

[rufius]

In my case, I'm a computer science undergrad and only just picked up the habit of writing down my thoughts. This developed naturally as I hit the physical limits of my short term memory.

 

I'm not much for creative writing and the thoughts I record are not "private" in a personal sense. I'm still going through my "growing" phase both in my writing media and pens. (I'll probably be buying a Binderised Pelikan M200 soon and I've just ordered an Apica journal)

 

Now that was a long way around to the question: What are you writing in your journals and in what field are you working?

 

I'm curious to find out what people are doing at work when they refer to using journals at work.

 

-Zac

[Phthalo]

No journals at work here... I work in an open-plan environment which discourages personal activity. We don't browse the web in our lunch-break, and we don't write in journals.

 

I'm curious too - do a lot of people journal in the workplace?

[satrap]

I am not my job, so I would not do a journal at work (I would never write about me in such an unsafe place). Also, I hate the word "journal", especially as a verb. And I'm not even a prescriptivist.

 

I am a writer (not employment-wise), I mean writing is what I like to do, so I write. I write poetry, with pretty pens and ink, on pretty paper bound in pretty books. Then, I hide it, and rarely read it again.

 

And, for the psych majors, I have white walls in my place. No pictures, no art, just naked white walls. White blinds, no curtains.

Take THAT, Freud, Maslow, and Chomsky (Chomsky?)!

 

:ltcapd:

[RandyE]

Interesting, but completely understandable that some people don't write at work. I have the luxury of being the only one from my department in my building (CTS is what we were called last year, this year we are ITS, go figure) so I have a real office with a door and everything, and a locking desk. In the age of cubeville I feel rather privileged to have these things, so I also feel generally safe writing in a journal at work. I do not, however, leave it in the open. Rather I keep it locked in my desk drawer when not in use.

 

As to what goes in it, I have to say that, like others have already stated, I write what's on my mind without concern for style or purpose, and rarely go back and read what I've written. I tend to flow from idea to idea without the need for smooth transitions as I don't write stories or anything like that. As a side note, my wife writes fiction (fantasy genre in Tolkien's world) but never writes in a personal journal.

 

- R

[finalidid]

I've recently started a new journal "strategy." For a long while I've been held back by ... well ... ya know ... ISSUES. But now I just IDENTIFY them rather than try to resolve or understand them. Example:

 

Old style: my dog is so screwed up, it's like what he wants to do is go home and be in the deep swaddling of his beloved den pack as a pup but he knows that he can't ever get back to that, so instead he whines and that gets on my nerves because I can't get my work done, all I hear is whine whine whine ...

 

New style: my dog is whining. This interrupts my work. I have theories about the dog's reasoning, but it's more important for me to understand why it so easily interrupts me.

 

I've found that the new "identify" rather than "investigate" method leaves me both with greater understanding, and with a greater rather than a lesser sense of sanity and calm when I'm done journaling. The old style used to actually ratchet up my unhappiness in some ways, and actually exacerbated rather than healed some problems. For this potential reason, I always hesitate to whole-heartedly endorse "journaling" (I too hate that usage as a verb) for all circumstances. Given that it can be done poorly, and in a detrimental manner, I'd only endorse it if it is carefully and well directed by a competent psychologist, as an adjunct to valid therapy, should either be indicated.

 

No, I can't write in a journal or any other kind of day-book (or night-book, for that matter) at work, except as pertains to work issues. One of the smartest things anyone ever recommended to me, was that I just jot down, about every fifteen minutes, anything that happened. So I have a spiral binder at my workplace of nothing but a series of events listed by date and time. "Monday. 10. emails from Zapruder. Looked at films. 11. finished Perkins pancakes. 12. Long call to mom. 2. Meeting about finances." Etc. Extremely helpful. (Probably will come in very useful when I'm on the clock as a lawyer, if that ever comes to pass, too.) Ya clip a nice pen to the notebook, so it's always there. Change the ink daily and you have a pretty reminder of your fountain's vagaries.

 

I am not my job, so I would not do a journal at work (I would never write about me in such an unsafe place). Also, I hate the word "journal", especially as a verb. And I'm not even a prescriptivist.

 

I am a writer (not employment-wise), I mean writing is what I like to do, so I write. I write poetry, with pretty pens and ink, on pretty paper bound in pretty books. Then, I hide it, and rarely read it again.

 

And, for the psych majors, I have white walls in my place. No pictures, no art, just naked white walls. White blinds, no curtains.

Take THAT, Freud, Maslow, and Chomsky (Chomsky?)!

 

:ltcapd:

 

The empty room sounds delightful. I like to live like that, too. I always have everything in its place, and containers for each discrete project. When I'm not working on one, it's back in the box, bin, filing cabinet, or wherever it goes, and the only thing out on the desk is the stuff I AM working on. Yeah, take THAT, Freud. Maslow? Chomsky? More like Jung ...

 

 

[rufius]

I am not my job, so I would not do a journal at work (I would never write about me in such an unsafe place). Also, I hate the word "journal", especially as a verb. And I'm not even a prescriptivist.

 

I am a writer (not employment-wise), I mean writing is what I like to do, so I write. I write poetry, with pretty pens and ink, on pretty paper bound in pretty books. Then, I hide it, and rarely read it again.

 

And, for the psych majors, I have white walls in my place. No pictures, no art, just naked white walls. White blinds, no curtains.

Take THAT, Freud, Maslow, and Chomsky (Chomsky?)!

 

:ltcapd:

 

Well I meant more of what type of writing are people doing at work, not necessarily personal but what kinds of things are people doing. Something in line with are people that are writers writing in a journal first, then typing up their work. In my case, my work journal is more of an account of things I did or things that happened while I was working.

 

That was what I was trying to get an idea of . I'd find it foolish to write in a personal journal at work, similar to spending large amounts of time writing personal emails at work.

 

-Zac

[Paddler]

I used to be a technical support guy who repaired computers and peripherals back in the day when a mini-computer was the size of a refrigerator and a 300 Megabyte disk drive was like a small, top-loading washing machine. The systems I worked on had maintenance manuals that would fill a six-foot shelf. Too much information. Couldn't find what I needed fast enough in all that. I kept a notebook full of register assignments, cable diagrams, switch settings, jumper assignments, revision level compatibility, interrupt vectors, backplane pin assignments, machine language instruction set, handwritten diagnostic programs.

 

This was all boiled down into a 6" X 8" three-ring notebook. The pages were individually cloth bound so they couldn't tear out. When I had to fly somewhere to fix a machine, the notebook went into my carry-on bag. The notebook was backed up on paper and on microfilm.

 

I didn't keep a journal at work. I didn't write down symptoms and fixes for them, and then try to repair things by referring to a database of some kind. You can't get anywhere like that, contrary to what a business-suited prevaricator thinks (AKA an administrator). You have to know how the equipment works in small detail, at least one level lower than the level you repair to.

 

I once knew a guy who did journal at work. He wrote down everything he was told to do, everything that happened that kept him from doing it on time, and everything he actually did. He included names, dates, everything. He called it his "Doomsday Book". He lasted until the first real downsizing of the company.

 

Paddler

 

[WhosYerBob]

I'm curious to find out what people are doing at work when they refer to using journals at work.

I do IT support.

 

My "journal" is actually a Moleskine 18-month weekly planner, but I keep *much* more than just my schedule in it. As support calls come in via email, verbally over the phone or in passing in the hallway - I write them down. This is due in part to have a record of them (we don't have job ticket tracking software because we're just a two person team) and to make sure I can refer to what I've been doing on any given day if asked - and I *have* been asked several times over the years, so it's cheap insurance.

 

I also keep a running tab on data and file recovery efforts as required for auditing purposes, specific settings and other detailed info I don't want to always access a computer to find, major projects and purchases to keep tabs on, all the machines I touch on a rotating basis, important vendor contact and warranty info, checklists, etc. And because I have it all organized just the way I want it, I can find everything literally in seconds. Much faster than a PDA, Tablet PC, or any other electronic device I've ever used.

 

I'd be lost without my "journal".

[rufius]

I used to be a technical support guy who repaired computers and peripherals back in the day when a mini-computer was the size of a refrigerator and a 300 Megabyte disk drive was like a small, top-loading washing machine. The systems I worked on had maintenance manuals that would fill a six-foot shelf. Too much information. Couldn't find what I needed fast enough in all that. I kept a notebook full of register assignments, cable diagrams, switch settings, jumper assignments, revision level compatibility, interrupt vectors, backplane pin assignments, machine language instruction set, handwritten diagnostic programs.

 

This was all boiled down into a 6" X 8" three-ring notebook. The pages were individually cloth bound so they couldn't tear out. When I had to fly somewhere to fix a machine, the notebook went into my carry-on bag. The notebook was backed up on paper and on microfilm.

 

I didn't keep a journal at work. I didn't write down symptoms and fixes for them, and then try to repair things by referring to a database of some kind. You can't get anywhere like that, contrary to what a business-suited prevaricator thinks (AKA an administrator). You have to know how the equipment works in small detail, at least one level lower than the level you repair to.

 

I once knew a guy who did journal at work. He wrote down everything he was told to do, everything that happened that kept him from doing it on time, and everything he actually did. He included names, dates, everything. He called it his "Doomsday Book". He lasted until the first real downsizing of the company.

 

Paddler

 

Agreed. I work as an on-call computer guy on the side and I keep information like that about different types of machines that have characteristic issues (ie: Dell laptops, HP desktops, Apple laptops) etc.

[Robotguy]

I work as an engineer at a company that makes deep sea robotics. I use my (fish engraved) large squared Moleskine to jot down just about everything that I do. I record the setup and results of tests that I run, take notes in meetings, write down all "to do" items (marked with a --> so they are easy to spot), log each phone call with vendors or field support techs, and record misc. useful information that I use often. I date every entry so I can figure out when I did something, or conversely, look up something that I know took place around a current date. I typically go through one to three pages per day.

 

Also the pocket at the back is useful for keeping spare business cards, receipts, a couple of post-its, etc.

 

My last semester of college I took a class called "Lifelong Developments in Engineering" that covered some of the more "meta" subjects concerning a career in engineering (Learn to play golf. Really. They said that). One of the things they suggested was to keep a dated daily log, in ink, in a journal with numbered, non-removeable pages, filling both sides of every page. If an issue ever came up where you needed evidence in court, you could refer to the log. They then cited several cases where it came in handy (I believe it was the Space Shuttle O-ring and something to do with BART in the San Fracisco Bay Area).

[AutomagV]

A lotta sketches and story ideas. Purely a creative vessel for me.

[CraigR]

I have a "master" journal that goes everywhere with me. Since I have a private office in a very small company, I do write in that journal periodically while at work. There are other "task specific" journals that I keep as well. One is a work related journal, kept in my briefcase and not my desk, where I record my thoughts on projects, challenges, business tips I hear about or even some brainstorming on company issues. This journal also has my notes documenting conversations and understandings with other people. I do not record privately sensitive notes in that journal. The master journal has quotes and thoughts that strike me as pertinent and worth remembering as well as my impressions of events and news. This is a private journal in that it is not shared openly. At times it seems to be a catch all and at others there is a definite trend going on. The most prized journal I keep is a "prayer" journal. This is where I record prayer requests for myself as well as others. I record answered prayers also. It is a joy to review this book. /Craig

[savarez]

I've shared this link before, but when this question comes up, I think this is a great starting point.

One of my co-workers has written a book called:

_How to Make a Complete Map of Every Thought You Think_

 

The online version is available here:

http://www.speakeasy.org/~lion/nb/

 

It's got a lot of great ideas that are applicable to journaling.

 

[ethernautrix]

I make up stuff, really outlandish stories in graphic detail...

 

 

and leave the notebooks lying around.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Not really, but now I have an idea....)

[CraigR]

I make up stuff, really outlandish stories in graphic detail...

 

 

and leave the notebooks lying around.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Not really, but now I have an idea....)

 

What fun to be the one who goes where you have been. /Craig

[RitaCarbon]

Free-flowing writing that stems out of Julia Cameron's morning pages. I write any time anywere, even at work. Sometimes, writing down interesting thoughts and ideas. But mostly just writing my thoughts, watching them, catching them, and putting them on paper. Any time when I feel bored or sad or wanting something I have no idea what. When I wait for my order in a restaurant to be delivered. On business trips, in airplanes. When I wait for a meeting to start when people arrive or when the meeting becomes unbearably boring and then I take very "personal" notes. On a date, if it becomes rotten. At a party, if it stinks.

 

To some degree, it's my meditation practice. I never feel shy to wip out my Moleskine and write.

 

Still writing my morning pages. But never have time to read them.

[finalidid]

ooops

Edited March 22, 2008 by finalidid

[finalidid]

I've shared this link before, but when this question comes up, I think this is a great starting point.

One of my co-workers has written a book called:

_How to Make a Complete Map of Every Thought You Think_

 

The online version is available here:

http://www.speakeasy.org/~lion/nb/

 

It's got a lot of great ideas that are applicable to journaling.

 

I find the fellow hysterical to the point of Tourette's. Is he for real? Well, this much is funny enough:

 

I don't know HOW many times I've seen people twiddling about with their little palm pilots, convinced that because they have ``technology'' on ``their side'', that they are being more effective than a man holding a piece of paper and a pen. The absurdity of these devices is astounding.

 

 

[savarez]

I find the fellow hysterical to the point of Tourette's. Is he for real? Well, this much is funny enough:

 

I don't know HOW many times I've seen people twiddling about with their little palm pilots, convinced that because they have ``technology'' on ``their side'', that they are being more effective than a man holding a piece of paper and a pen. The absurdity of these devices is astounding.

 

 

Heh... Lion is 100% for real (yes, his name is really Lion). I asked him once why he put his cell number on his home page. He responded that he has never gotten a call that he didn't want.

 

He's a great guy and has some really good ideas. Take 'em or leave 'em.

 

-m

[satrap]

[ I always have everything in its place, and containers for each discrete project. ]

 

now that's plain crazy. :ltcapd: :ltcapd: